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Posted on Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 8:30 a.m.

Rise & Fall: Dan Cornell and Lame-duck legislators

By Paula Gardner

One biked across the U.S. to finish the trip his father couldn't, and the other waited to push through some one-sided, last-minute legislation.

Here are our picks for Sunday's winner and loser in the news:

Rise: Dan Cornell
Children facing the loss of a parent often are faced with choices about how to honor their loved one’s memory. In the case of Dan Cornell, the answer seemed obvious: The South Lyon resident got onto a bicycle and traveled the remaining leg of Pete Cornell’s cross-country trip that started in Alaska. Pete, former head of the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors, died in July near Dawson, Ga., as he closed in on his Key West, Fla., destination, two companion cyclists were injured. The trip took days, and Dan says he’s nowhere near the cyclist his father was. Still, he’s hoping the ride will bring him and others some peace following Pete’s death on the road.

Fall: Lame-duck legislators
There’s not much left to say that hasn’t been uttered in Michigan during the last week, but we feel we must weigh in with a hearty “Fall” to the elected officials who, upon leaving office, felt compelled to force a one-sided agenda onto the state via a series of last-minute legislation. We wish you well in your next endeavors and hope you end up in jobs where you’re held accountable all the time and not just when it benefits you. Voters of all parties in this state deserve to have our laws vetted with real public discourse - and voted upon by people who feel a responsibility to seek that no matter whether it hurts their chances for reelection.

Comments

shepard145

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 10:35 p.m.

The Koch brothers support economic prosperity for all Americans and limited life sucking government - definably something to oppose at all cost! LOL
You voted for obama and you got him - now enjoy America in decline during the reign of the worst president in a hundred years!! Don't forget to tell your kids you voted for him since they and their children will spend their lifetimes chained to their desks working off his debt!! LOL

lefty48197

Mon, Dec 31, 2012 : 2:39 a.m.

Apparently, you missed the last few years. The rest of us watched the Dow Jones drop from 14,000 to 6600. It bottomed out just a few weeks into the Obama Presidency and it's gone up about 100% since then. You also apparently missed the recoveries in the automobile industry, the home building industry, the banking industry.... If you've already failed to see the obvious, is there any reason for anybody to try an explain it to you further?

The sorrowful lot of the Republican house and senate caucus are like the rats in the old Pied Piper tale , following the manic tune of their leaders and the Koch brothers money. Now it appears the governor has fallen prey to the spell. But, at least in the fairy tale the rats left the village. Here unfortunately many of the rats are staying in Lansing,

The Democrats' obsession with the Koch brothers always gives me a good chuckle. Like a broken record player that you have to kick every once in awhile to keep in on track.

shepard145

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 3:16 p.m.

Amusing how sanctimonious democrats become every time they experience the kind of treatment they heap on others every time they have had the chance over the decades. Not to mention their track record of embarrassing economic incompetence that Republicans are left cleaning up after they vacated the Governors office.
To his credit, you never hear Rick Snyder blame Granholm. Clearly Obama, worst president in a century, could learn a lot from Rick Snyder as he leads Michigan to it's first recovery after an 8 year slide.

Sparty

Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 11:39 a.m.

Obama = first re-elected Democrat President to win a Majority, more than 50%, in both elections since FDR. Winner of Nobel Peace Prize, just one of four Presidents to do so (3 were Democrats). Winner of among the highest electoral college victories in US History, for BOTH of his elections. And, currently enjoying among the highest approval ratings of his Presidency. Worst Presidents? Think Republican: Nixon, Hoover, GW Bush.

shepard145

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.

You mean the fractional debt, full employment and $1.84 gas of 2006 when democrats lied their way into Congress? Forget? LOL Many never knew what they had and now the worst president in a century is presiding over the democrat party decline of America. You voted for him - you deserve him.

Brad

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 9:05 p.m.

Obama isn't even the worst president of THIS century. How soon they forget.

shepard145

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 6:28 p.m.

Must be nice to live in a simple black and white world - good luck with that.

tom swift jr.

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.

You want a measure of what kind of person Snyder is? He was all for the relaxed gun laws, he would have signed it, but you can bet that he'll weasel out after the event last friday. If he was a man, a leader, he would have a position and stick to it, not let an event a thousand miles away change his mind. He's an opportunist, he'll do what ever leads to profit, nothing more, nothing less. I have no respect for Snyder, none.
(Please note, I am GLAD he's not signing that bill, he would have just been getting on his knees to the gun lobby.)

Robert Gordon

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.

And that is why Ouimet and Olson will no longer have jobs representing us in a couple weeks, and why the citizens of this state must see this right wing attack for what it is; an attack on the people of Michigan.

dsponini

Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 3:50 p.m.

We must vote extremists out of power one at a time, no matter how long it takes.

Chase Ingersoll

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.

Paula:
The issues were vetted when these legislators ran for election 2 years ago and the MAJORITY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN VOTERS elected them to do precisely what they finally got around to doing.
The right to work was further vetted during the unions failed attempt to force unionization upon every employer and worker in the state.
Suggestion: step out of your echo chamber on Liberty St. and experience a little diversity of thought at any of the Campaign for Liberty, Tea Party, GOP, Right to Work and Right to Life meetings that take place weekly and monthly in Washtenaw County.

dsponini

Mon, Dec 17, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.

Right on Paula!!!!

Bill Wilson

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.

Good point Paula... but you seem to have a very convienient memory: where was the criticism of Bill Clinton by the Ann Arbor News when he pardoned the FALN terrorists just before he left office? The hypocrisy of your publication is why many fail to take you seriously.

Paula Gardner

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 5:16 p.m.

But they only got around to it when it couldn't hurt their chances for re-election. If the issues were critical, they shouldn't have let them wait 2 years.

Ignatz

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 2:31 p.m.

Yep, that was two years ago. The electorate is beginning to see the effects of the Radical Right and has already started to vote them out. However, those in the party of no want to go down kicking and bring the rest of the state with them.
Live in the present.

Brad

Sun, Dec 16, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.

Good Rise &amp; Fall choices this time. Or more like Rise &amp; FAIL. Is there anything more cowardly than this lame duck lameness?